Shoulder knock rules King out of Broncos crunch match

Michael Chammas

MANLY prop Jason King is expected to miss tonight's clash with Brisbane, failing to overcome a shoulder injury suffered in last Sunday's win over the Knights.

King, who missed last year's premiership-winning campaign with a pectoral injury, has an AC joint problem that will rule him out of at least this round's game.

He could return for the final regular season game next week, but might not be back until the first week of the play-offs.

Hooker Matt Ballin (calf) is rated a good chance of lining up against the Broncos.

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Utility Jamie Buhrer (concussion) has been given the all-clear.

Brisbane, who have been bunkered down in Sydney for most of the week, are expected to take the field as named on Tuesday.

Canberra prop Tom Learoyd-Lahrs will make his return from a hamstring injury, a timely boost ahead of the Raiders' season-defining match against the Bulldogs tonight.

There is a suggestion Canterbury coach Des Hasler is contemplating resting a few players, but with the minor premiership on the line, he could wait until next week's match against the Sydney Roosters.

The Bulldogs have no injury concerns and, if no players are rested, should retain the same line-up.

Penrith welcome back Michael Jennings from suspension for their clash with the Titans at Centrebet Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

There will be a tribute to Luke Lewis that will treat the match as his final home game, although the lock will miss the game after undergoing surgery on his neck.

Gold Coast prop Nate Myles has an injury to his sternum but will play.

Micheal Luck will captain the Warriors in the absence of Simon Mannering, earning a starting spot for the first time in his final season before his retirement.

The make-up of the Warriors' bench for the game against

St George Illawarra at WIN Stadium on Saturday evening is still unknown. Warriors hooker Nathan Friend, who dislocated his shoulder in the loss to Penrith last weekend, will undergo surgery next week in a bid to be 100 per cent fit for the start of next year.

Dragons captain Ben Hornby rolled his ankle at training earlier in the week but is expected to play his final home game.

North Queensland forward Ricky Thorby has been omitted from the bench with a lower-leg injury that will keep him out of action for up to three weeks. Joel Riethmuller will take his place on the bench for the game against Newcastle tomorrow night.

Aaron Payne will play his final regular season home game at Dairy Farmers Stadium before hanging up the boots at the end of the season.

The Wests Tigers and Sydney Roosters remain unchanged at this stage for their Sunday afternoon game at Allianz Stadium.

South Sydney hooker Nathan Peats is expected to play 80 minutes against Parramatta on Sunday afternoon with Issac Luke dropped to the NSW Cup.

Melbourne and Queensland centre Dane Nielsen will remain in the NSW Cup, with Craig Bellamy retaining Justin O'Neill and Will Chambers in the centres on Monday night.

Nathan Gardner will again play NSW Cup for Cronulla alongside Nielsen, and will not return to the NRL against the Storm on Monday.